AUGUSTA, MAINE -- The Maine Elks Association (MEA) State Hoop Shoot competition was held on February 1, 2009, at Cony High School in Augusta. The event was hosted by the Augusta Elks Lodge #1964. Eighteen boys and girls competed in the contest to determine the six state champions, who have earned the right to advance to the regional contest to be held in South Portland, Maine on March 27-29, 2009.

Here are the final standings:

Girls 8-9 Cassidy Pelletier Cari Hopkins Shania Johnson	... Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954 Augusta Elks Lodge #964 Bath Elks Lodge #934
Boys 8-9 Emmet Shell Ben Christopher Ryan Hoogterp	... Rockland Elks Lodge #1008 Farmington Elks Lodge #2430 Old Town Elks Lodge #1287
Girls 10-11 Taylor Sargent Dominique Lewis Courtney Dunton	... Portland Elks Lodge #188 Waterville Elks Lodge #905 Bangor Elks Lodge #244
Boys 10-11 Michael Wiper Justin Evans Parker Brewer	... Portland Elks Lodge #188 Farmington Elks Lodge #2430 Houlton Elks Lodge #835
Girls 12-13 Carmen Bragg Cheyenne Malloy Allie Clement	... Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954 Skowhegan-Madison Elks #2531 Portland Elks Lodge #188
Boys 12-13 Isaiah Patterson Ethan Jordan Brendan Newcomb	... Rockland Elks Lodge #1008 Augusta Elks Lodge #964 Bangor Elks Lodge #244

Following the contest, the contestants traveled to the Augusta Elks Lodge, where they were treated to pizza, and were provided with Drug Awareness materials furnished by Drug Awareness Director Frank Ricker of the Maine Elks Association. Following lunch, the awards were presented to each contestant by State Hoop Shoot Director, Mark Inman, who was assisted by MEA State President Robert Drisko of the Augusta Elks Lodge, 2nd Vice-President Wayne Cotterly of the Lewiston Elks Lodge, and Past State President Claris Ranger of the Farmington Elks Lodge. Also speaking at the event was Area 1 Hoop Shoot Committeeman, Richard Blinn of Massachusetts, who spoke about the importance of the Hoop Shoot program. Blinn also expressed his sincere thanks to the Elks National Foundation and its contributors for funding the Elks National Hoop Shoot program.

Two special awards were also presented to the highest scoring boy and girl. The first award was the Allan W. Richard Outstanding Shooter Award in memory of the late Allan Richard who had served as the MEA's Hoop Shoot Chairman for 19 years. The award was presented to Carmen B. representing the Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954. The Amos A. McCallum Outstanding Shooter Award, was presented to Emmet S., representing the Rockland Elks Lodge #1008.

Since its inception in 1946, the Elks National Hoop Shoot competition has grown to include more than 3 million participants annually, making it the largest non-profit co-educational sports program in the country. Much of the funding for the program comes from the Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.

Pictured above are Front: (L-R): Cassidy Pelletier, Emmet Shell, Taylor Sargent, and Michael Wiper. Back: (L-R): MEA State President Robert Drisko, Carmen Bragg, Isaiah Patterson, and MEA State Hoop Shoot Director Mark Inman.